It is with Joy, your Mission Centre President Team wishes you a very Merry Christmas. May you allow joy to fill your heart and carry you through these dark but shining days. May celebrating the birth of Christ renew your enjoyment of life and may you feel connected in joy with your neighbours far and near. Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
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This third week of advent, your Mission Centre President Team send you greetings of Love. May you feel God's love for you warming your heart and radiating to all those you connect with. As the season gets busier, may you find strength and courage from that love of God that holds you unconditionally. Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Let's come together to celebrate the holiday season and spread joy, hope, love and peace! Click on the video above to watch a wonderful Christmas Message from our Mission Centre Presidency Team! Yours in Christ,
Gwyn Beer [email protected] Kat Goheen [email protected] Becky Middleton [email protected] Shannon McAdam [email protected] This second week of advent, your Mission Centre President Team sends you greetings of Peace. May you be blessed this season with moments of peace and reconciliation in your heart and in your close relationships. May you be challenged this season to find ways to be peace in the world, for our planet and its people. Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] The season of Advent is upon us, the time of preparing and waiting for the Christmas season to begin. As I reflect on the year that was, I realize there is an abundance to consider. There were great joys but also times of turmoil and chaos. In reflection, I'm reminded of the hymn "Light Dawns on a Weary World," a beautiful composition that resonates with the essence of Advent and lends hope to our hearts.
The lists we create for our preparations and multiple events can make anyone weary this time of year. On the four Sundays of Advent, we light candles to focus on hope, love, joy, and peace. These four simple words have such great meaning when we pause and reflect on each one weekly. Taking the time once a week leading up to Christmas to reflect on these four words can rejuvenate our souls and may lead us to be energized for our Christmas experiences. Light reveals what is going on around us, love grows in our hearts as we acknowledge or pray on what the light has shown and then hope will bloom, possibly in the form of action. If we each can find the love which brings hope, we can find our inner peace. A time when we take a deep breath and feel the weight of the world come off our shoulders. It is a “let go and let God” moment we may treasure. The peace that comes from knowing you did your best, or after a well-deserved break you will try again. A true peaceful feeling brings joy to all around us. The tune for the beautiful hymn, Light Dawns on a Weary World was presented during a Hymn Society Gathing in the Community of Christ temple in Independence Missouri, a location known as a peace church, so the composition was entitled Temple of Peace. The poem, or words written to accompany this tune, proclaim the feeling for peace. The final phrase of this hymn is inspired by the words found in Isaiah chapter 55 and were crafted to create a sense of peace making through worship, “We shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace, as all the world in wonder echoes shalom”. Any place you find yourself in this Christmas season, you can be present with joy so all of those around you may follow your example and feel a sense of peace. Let the light of the season dawn upon you, heralding the birth of the peaceful one. Rejoice in sharing sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas and peaceful New Year with all those you encounter. Wishing you a season filled with peace, joy, and the wonder of Christmas. Dawn Dawson Mission Centre President Team As we enter the advent season, your Mission Centre President Team sends you greetings of Hope. We hope for a season not only of connection with loved ones and service to the community, but also rest and calm. In the midst of this season we hope you find tender moments to savour and times to rest. Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Written by Becky Middleton Canada West Mission Centre Co-President From October 26 - November 14, 2013, I was privileged to volunteer at the Joseph Smith Historical Site in Nauvoo, Illinois. My first "official" assignment was to help carve Jack 'O' Lanterns for the town of Nauvoo's Pumpkin Walk - how fun is that!
After some tutelage and practice with Lach MacKay I was ready to take my turns leading the guided tour of the historic sites which include: Nauvoo House, the Homestead cabin, the Mansion House, and the Red Brick Store. I really enjoyed sharing the history and stories surrounding Nauvoo and the early church with the many visitors who came to experience the Joseph Smith Historical Site. There were many insightful and interesting questions that people appreciated candid answers for. When I was not leading tours, I was able to help around the visitor center with decorating for Christmas and a few other tasks as well as visiting and getting to know my fellow volunteers. On my days "off " I visited the Latter-Day Saint sites and enjoyed interacting with the folks there too. I was very interested in the heritage of the era and the lovely old buildings. Many asked me interesting questions about my faith with the Community of Christ, being a woman with priesthood and a pastor in Canada. It was an enlightening time for many. I also visited the surrounding area either on foot or being chauffeured by some of the other wonderful volunteer/friends. These included the state park, present town of Nauvoo, Carthage jail and the Community of Christ congregation and campgrounds located at Nauvoo. My accommodation was a lovely heritage home overlooking the Mississippi river. Beautiful! All in all, it was a wonderful experience that I would love to do again and hope to! For additional information about becoming a volunteer, click on the button below or email [email protected] A tour of Italy with the Historic Sites team is being planned for 2024! Blessings, Becky Friends, As we approach Advent season and Christmas celebrations, we also approach year end. Perhaps you, like I, look back at this time and reflect on memories and accomplishments as planning for next year hides behind curtain number three. Gathering with people from around the globe for World Conference this year was a blessing. The energy, the devotion, the enthusiasm, the wisdom gathered led us to offer moments of blessing at our CEM conference. That became the highlight of the conference experience for many people, and we do plan for more of those experiences in gatherings next year. Thank you for sharing the importance of that practice. We continue to pray for every congregation, their leadership and all the dedicated members of our Mission Centre as we know our future resides in your wisdom, passion, and servant ministry. When a course on discernment facilitation was offered, I eagerly signed up for this two-year journey of learning. What I have found most important for a successful facilitator is time dedicated to my personal spiritual formation. I still struggle with that discipline. In this troubled world, the more people there are dedicated to listening for the still small voice of the divine, the better. I hope you make that a part of your daily routine along with the Mission Prayer. All the seven facilitators in the course are expected to practice discernment with a group in 2024. If a congregation would like to be a discerning community, please contact the presidency team for an opportunity to be a participant. Below is a poem that came to me during one of my spiritual formation times. What is the sound of a leaf falling as it flutters to the ground?
Crisp and crackly or soft and silent? Patiently you wait for its moment of release, wondering Can you stop it in its descent? Why no, God forbid. For nature takes its cue from the creator above, And we are but observers destined to watch and wait in awe. For the day a leaf tumbles in all its blazing glory can no more be controlled than the rising and setting of the sun. What is the sound of a tear falling as it trickles down a cheek? Harsh and sobbing or small and soundless? Tenderly you watch a soul in unknown torment, wondering Can you stop a tear in its descent? Why yes, God be praised! For the suffering take their cue from acts of compassion And we are the humble servants called to see, listen, and love. For the day a tear lingers on a shadowed face Is the day you’re called to kindly walk in the footsteps of the risen One. Yours in Christ, Vonda DenBoer Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President I want to thank you all for rolling along with us. We left Nauvoo and spent our last night in a hotel. Denyse loaded our luggage on to the bus for the last time and we headed down the road. Our goal was Iowa and then Missouri.
We arrived in Lamoni, Iowa and our first stop was Liberty Hall, the home of Joseph Smith III and family. The house is a little outside of the town. Our group was divided into 5 smaller groups to be able to tour through the home. We also toured through the one room school house that has been moved onto the property. This was the school that the Smith children did attend but it was not that close when they went to the school! I loved seeing inside the home. It has been lovingly restored and many pieces were original to the home. "The Liberty Hall Story", built in 1881, was the home of Joseph Smith III till 1905. Joseph Smith said "Liberty Hall throbbed with life, teeming with the bustling activities of a large and growing family. Birth, death, and marriage occurred within its walls. Joys and sorrows succeeded each other as the day the night." "Liberty Hall is a premier restoration site listed on the Iowa and National Registers of historic homes that gives visitors a glimpse into a middle-class family, an era of late Midwestern Victorian culture, and the story of a significant religious movement in American History." Back on the bus, we went to Graceland University. Things have changes since I went to Graceland College. We were treated to lunch in the Commons dining room of the University. The food was very good! We had some free time to walk around the campus and then we returned to the bus. We were in for a treat that was NOT on our agenda! We were taken to the local Lamoni Community of Christ church. The Mite society of Lamoni, Iowa had put on a special display of quilts and quilt tops, some of which dated back to the Mite Society beginning in 1872! The Mite Society (Luke 21:2-4 for the story of the widow’s mite) contributed sewing of clothes and quilts for the needy in the community. They formally organized in 1883 and in 1983 were recognized for this long-term service association. Currently the Mites quilt every Thursday and sell the quilts with the proceeds contributing to community projects such as the library, medical center, walking trails and swimming pool. The Mites set up quilts throughout the chapel and were set up working on a quilt while we were there. There was a large collection of quilts from Liberty Hall and new quilts made by the local Mite Society members. They also advertised locally so community members could also come and see these beautiful quilts. Wow! What an end to our tour! We left Lamoni sent on our way by these amazing quilters! As the bus rolled along, we sang and shared and had our final devotion. The bus rolled to our final stop, the parking lot of the Temple in Independence, Missouri. “A Story to Tell: Women in Community of Christ” bus tour officially ended. Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Last week Brenda Senga wrote about a wonderful time at the Kirtland Visitor Centre that included both a wonderful meal while gazing at the temple and a Communion Meal in the temple.
Community of Christ owns Kirtland Temple but we are not the only ones caring for the sacred spaces that we hold in our history hearts! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are also the caretakers of our sacred spaces. I had the pleasure of being conducted through some of these sacred spaces by Elder and Sister Barrow. They were my site guides twice. We went to Palmyra NY to tour the Smith Family home site where I first met Elder and Sister Barrow. They guided us through the Smith family home painting a picture of a young man in touch with God and a family that supported him. We were then given time to enter the Sacred Grove. We went on to the Grandin Print Shop where the first printing of the Book of Mormon was done. We stopped at the Hill Cumorah, some climbed the hill and others took time to stretch and then back on the bus. We returned to Kirtland and visited the temple and then toured the Joseph and Emma Smith home which is a block away from the temple with the cemetery in the middle. This was my second encounter with Elder and Sister Barrow! What a blessing for me! This couple had raised 4 sons and were now spending 18 months volunteering at the sacred sites from our combined heritage. They were away from their home and children and grandchildren but so positive about their experience volunteering. They Thanked Me for caring for the Kirtland temple and Nauvoo! Next stop: Nauvoo Illinois! The bus rolled up to the visitor’s centre in Nauvoo where we had the opportunity to stretch and go to the washroom. We were given a box lunch to take back on the bus and as we ate our box lunch, we drove the streets of Nauvoo. Seeing the Mansion house, the original small home of Joseph and Emma that was added on to for family and friends. The burial site of Joseph, Emma and Hyrum Smith and all the Stories that accompanied this place! We stopped and shopped at the Red Brick Store. Coming up next week... The last stop on the Rolling Reunion, thanks for getting on the bus with us! |
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